Dawg Day Evening

The Washington Huskies are just possibly in a position that no other college football team has found itself.

Its head coach, Steve Sarkisian, has left for USC. Chris Petersen has been hired from Boise State. Neither will be in San Francisco to lead the Huskies in the Fight Hunger Bowl.

That duty falls to quarterbacks coach and Husky alum Marques Tuiasosopo.

Here's what's unique about that, and what may be the key to this game: Tuiasosopo has been where the Washington players are now. He was the quarterback for the Huskies when then-coach Jim Lambright was fired and Rick Neuheisel was on his way to Seattle. He knows how and what the players feel. With a bit of coaching experience behind him now -- and a fifth-year quarterback in Keith Price -- there may nobody else in the game who can pull this team together sufficiently to win a post-season bowl.

The Huskies are faster than BYU. Their offense is more balanced than BYU. Their defense is faster than BYU. Their special teams are definitely faster than BYU. Bovada has this game listed as Washington at -3. It'll be a surprise if the Huskies don't win by double figures.

Check some of the comparative stats that are available on the Bovada data tool on our Home page:

Now check the balance of those numbers against those of the Cougars:

Expect the Washington defense to contain Taysom Hill's passing game. If so, he'll have to beat them with his feet. In the Husky victories this season, they've yielded yards but stiffened in the red zone. The betting here is that will happen again.

With Tuiasosopo covering the intangibles, the Huskies will cover the spread before fog rolls into the San Franciscan night.

Prediction: Washington   -3

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UPDATE:

Result ... Washington 31 BYU 16     Huskies cover